Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series examining the Power 5 and top Group of 5 teams for the 2019 college football season.
Eight years ago when Utah joined the Pac-12 from the Mountain West, coach Kyle Whittingham looked around his roster and knew that his staff felt pretty good about the Utes’ first 22 guys and how they would make the jump to a Power 5 league. But after those first-string guys on either side of the ball, there were a lot of question marks, and he knew that in order to be competitive in the Pac-12, Utah would need a lot more than just one guy at each position.
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The roster build was been slow and though Utah has ranked in the top half of the Pac-12 in terms of recruiting classes only two times in the past nine signing classes (No. 6 in 2011 and No. 5 in 2018), the Utes have managed to build the kind of depth they want at key positions.
While Utah has historically been solid recruiters of big bodies in the trenches, its skill-position recruiting hadn’t always wowed. But, the longer the Utes have been in the Pac-12, the more talent they’ve picked up at skill positions — from 2011 to 2014 Utah signed 26 three-star wide receivers, running backs and defensive backs; from 2015 to 2018 they signed 41.
That kind of depth never proved more valuable — or obvious — than last season, when the Utes won their first Pac-12 South title behind a backup quarterback and backup running back.
“That speaks to our depth and that was something that was a problem for us when we got in the league,” Whittingham said. “Now we feel like we’ve accumulated a lot more depth than we’ve ever had. And that’s the key, just continuing to build that depth. I don’t think you’re ever a finished product but you’ve got to be able to sustain some of those injuries and unforeseen circumstances.
“And the way you do that is depth.”
Now, despite key departures on the offensive line and in the pass rush, the Utah coaches head into 2019 with confidence that this team’s depth has built up to a level that it’ll be able to face potential unforeseen circumstances that crop up during any given season.
Biggest on-field question
Defense has always been Whittingham’s calling card. Last season, in 13 games against FBS opponents, the Utes held 10 below their season average in scoring (by a nearly two-touchdown margin).
The balance of that unit, as well as why the team often has the conference’s best run defense, comes from the coordinated play between an historically strong (and large) defensive line and a secondary group, that often has five DBs, playing a lot of man coverage, which makes it tough on opposing quarterbacks. The result has often been the Utes throwing parties in opposing offense’s backfields with the quarterback playing the part of piñata.
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Last year, the Utah defense led the Pac-12 in scoring defense, rushing defense and third-down conversion percentage. It finished second in sacks and total defense, but only by a hair in either category. The Utes placed seven defensive players, more than any other conference program, on the first and second All-Pac-12 teams.
While five of those All-Pac-12 selections return to the Utah defense in 2018, the defense is also losing its top four tacklers from a season ago — linebackers Chase Hansen and Cody Barton as well as defensive backs Marquise Blair and Corrion Ballard. Those four players combined for more than 40 percent of the Utes’ tackles in 2018.
Now that production must be replaced and that is a daunting task for any coach and defensive coordinator.
The good news for Utah as the program attempts to fill the gaping holes left behind by those four leading tacklers is that it has developed major depth up front.
“This is probably the deepest defensive front we’ve ever had,” Whittingham said. “We’re very fortunate — that’s a great starting point to build a defense around.”
Whittingham said that Utah has 11 players on the D-line in which he feels confident.
The group will be led by seniors Bradlee Anae, John Penisini and Leki Fotu as well as juniors Maxs Tupai, Huauti Pututau and Pita Tonga.
If those names sound familiar to you, it’s because this unit returns almost its entire two-deep from 2018. Adding to that group are younger players and a transfer, who will be able to fold themselves into the mix and learn from — what likely will be — the Pac-12’s best defensive line.
“It does allow you to get a little creative with defensive-line sets — you can go with five out there at one time and go with an odd look, take some of your more athletic D-ends and be able to drop them into coverage,” defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley said. “The more they know the system … the more you’re able to put on their plates.”
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And for a unit that is typically good year-over-year, that kind of creativity, cohesion and mentality should be a bit troubling for offensive coordinators looking to find holes in the Utes’ defensive front.
But, will that pressure created by the defensive front be enough to make up for the big gaps that exist elsewhere? Will first-year players at the two linebacker spots be able to fill in? Will depth exist behind those players as the season wears on? And though that defensive front should be able to take some pressure off the Utah defensive backs, how will the new faces back there fill in for a pass defense that finished 53rd among FBS teams a season ago?
As Whittingham puts together this defensive puzzle, he knows he has a big piece complete. But if the Utes want to compete for a Pac-12 title, the other pieces need to be filled in around that defensive line and big shoes need to be filled.
Depth chart analysis
Quarterbacks: Senior Tyler Huntley’s performance in Utah’s spring game should’ve nixed any lingering fear that the senior wouldn’t be able to get back into playing shape following his season-ending collarbone injury in 2018. But where exactly is his ceiling? A season ago, he threw eight of his 12 touchdowns in two games — four against Weber State, four against USC. He combined for another four in the remaining seven games in which he appeared. The senior will need to improve his efficiency and accuracy, but he’ll have a deep group of returning receivers to help. He’ll be pushed by sophomore Jason Shelley, who showed himself as a capable backup in Huntley’s absence a season ago. Most importantly, the Utes have experienced depth at this position, which is something they haven’t always had in the past.
Running backs: The Utes lost some depth at this position when Armand Shyne, who stepped in for an injured Zack Moss near the end of 2018, chose to transfer. But, Moss — a senior who rushed for 11 touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards before sustaining a season-ending injury in 2018 — is back, as well as junior Devonta’e Henry-Cole, who had a solid 2017 season (279 yards, two touchdowns) but missed all of last season with an arm injury. New offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig will definitely lean heavily on Moss, but Henry-Cole, as well as sophomores TJ Green and Devin Brumfield, will likely see some carries, too.
Wide receivers/tight ends: Nationally, Utah was a decently efficient passing team in 2018. The problem is that the Utes weren’t productive enough. While they ranked 45th in completion percentage (61.5 percent), they ranked 73rd in passing touchdowns (19) with an overall pass efficiency rating just within the top 70 of FBS programs. However, with both Huntley and Shelley returning as well as its top six leading pass catchers from 2018, this unit has a real chance to make big strides, but expect it to be as a committee. Junior Britain Covey, who recorded 60 catches for 637 yards (both team highs), will be a primary target as will sophomore Jaylen Dixon, who had a breakout 2018 season as a freshman, and junior Samson Nacua, who’s one of the team’s most reliable offensive players and led Utah with five TD catches in 2018. With 40 appearances and 25 starts, senior Demari Simpkins is one of the most experienced players on the roster on either side of the ball. If you’re looking for lesser-known guys who could become bigger names in 2019, keep an eye on sophomores Solomon Enis and Bryan Thompson.
Offensive line: The line will feel the losses of Jackson Barton and Jordan Agasiva — two all-Pac-12 first-team selections in 2018 — as well as Lo Falemaka, who each had more than 20 career starts. Look for fifth-year senior Darrin Paulo, who has started 26 games at right tackle, to move over to left tackle for 2019 to take Barton’s spot. Next to him there will be some consistency — sophomore Nick Ford at left guard (six starts there in 2018) and junior Orlando Umana at center (nine starts there in 2018). As for the right side of the line, it’ll be younger, less-experienced players. At right guard, redshirt freshman Paul Maile and freshman Johnny Maea (back from his mission) will compete for reps. At right tackle, redshirt freshman Braeden Daniels, junior-college transfer Bam Olaseni and sophomore Nick Ford will vie for the starting nod.
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Defensive line: As detailed above, this unit might be the deepest of any in the Pac-12 (or maybe the country). Whittingham feels as though he has 11 more-than-capable players here, and this unit looks primed for some major performances in 2019. On the ends, All-Pac-12 first-team selection and senior Bradlee Anae (33 appearances, 20 starts) and junior Maxs Tupai (17 appearances, eight starts) will be continuing Utah’s pass-rushing legacy, which has finished in the top 20 nationally in sacks in all eight seasons Utah has been in the Pac-12. Backing up those two will be sophomore Mika Tafua, redshirt freshman Fua Pututau and freshman Semisi Luaki. Anchoring the tackle spots will be seniors Leki Fotu and John Penisini — both of whom landed on the All-Pac-12 team in 2018 — while Huauti Pututau, Pita Tonga (who didn’t go through spring ball but will be good to go this fall), Hawaii transfer/junior Viane Moala and redshirt freshman Jackson Cravens figure to work their way into the rotation.
Linebackers: For all the veteran experience and depth on the D-line, the exact opposite is true at linebacker as Utah graduated Cody Barton and Chase Hansen. The top three players competing for the two starting spots are senior Francis Bernard (who played in 12 games last season for the Utes after transferring from BYU), sophomore Devin Lloyd (the defense’s most improved player through the spring) and Penn State graduate transfer Manny Bowen.
Defensive backs: Senior Julian Blackmon (27 career starts at corner), who was selected to the All-Pac-12 second team a season ago, has made the move over to free safety, taking up the role held by Corrion Ballard over the past two seasons. As one of the most veteran and talented defensive players on the field, he’ll be leaned on heavily. Behind him would be sophomore R.J. Hubert or junior Vonte Davis. At strong safety, where the Utes lost Marquise Blair (two-season starter), senior Terrell Burgess will take over. Davis is a potential backup here, as is freshman Aaron Lowe, a former two-way athlete (unsurprising for Utah’s defense) who also was a track standout (also unsurprising for Utah’s DBs). At corner, All-Pac-12 first-team junior Jaylon Johnson and senior Tareke Lewis are projected to start. Senior Josh Nurse, junior Nygel King and sophomore Bronson Boyd are in the rotation as backups. Finally, at nickel, junior Javelin Guidry (13 career starts at nickel) will start and be backed up by redshirt freshman Malone Mataele.
Special teams: Utah loses All-Pac-12 talent in both placekicker Matt Guy and punter Mitch Wishnowsky. A lot of fan bases might scoff at the idea of needing to “reload” on special teams, but not Utah. Whittingham truly sees this unit as a group that can steal a possession or two, change the momentum of a game or be reliable in putting points on the board. Right now, the rebuilding effort is going slowly. In the spring game, Chayden Johnston (43 yards) and Jadon Redding (35 yards) both missed field-goal attempts that would’ve been gimmes for Guy a season ago. Freshman punter Ben Lennon hails from Australia and hopes to follow in the footsteps of Wishnowsky and Tom Hackett.
How the Utes have recruited from 2016-19
According to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings, here is how Utah’s recruiting classes have shaken out nationally, as well as within the Pac-12 during the past four seasons:
In the past four signing classes, the Utes have finished in the top half of Pac-12 signing classes only once. But, from 2015 to 2018, there were only five Pac-12 schools that finished with at least three winning seasons in conference play, and only two of those programs came from the Pac-12 South — Utah and USC.
The Utes aren’t ever going to be like USC, a program that reels in five-star after five-star. Just look at this past season as an example: In the recruiting cycle immediately following Utah’s first Pac-12 South title, the program compiled the conference’s ninth-best class.
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But, the Utes have shown that they can compete at that level by bringing in high school players with specific talents (they really love their track guys) and developing them while complementing that with junior-college transfers.
And when it comes to JUCO transfers, the Utes have seemed to have more success than most Pac-12 schools. In the 2016 class, they signed quarterback Troy Williams, punter Mitch Wishnowsky and running back Armand Shyne. In 2017, they got Corrion Ballard, Marquise Blair and Jordan Agasiva, who all leave big holes to fill as well as Josh Nurse and John Penisini, who are both expected to be huge contributors this season. The 2018 signing class had Tareke Lewis and Vonte Davis.
In the pecking order of Pac-12 schools, the Utes — even with a Pac-12 South title — haven’t broken through to snag the five-stars. When it comes to abundant talent in the surrounding area, the Utes will be able to compete in getting players for the trenches, but they must find skill players who are overlooked as well as junior-college transfers — something they have done really well.
Impact of coaching changes
A season ago, Utah was the only Pac-12 school that had no coaching changes in the offseason. Now, there have been three.
The biggest change is new offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, who, for longtime Utah fans, isn’t much of a new face at all though change at the OC position in Salt Lake City comes almost as annually as taxes. (Ludwig is Utah’s ninth offensive coordinator in the past 11 seasons.)
Ludwig was Whittingham’s first OC when Whittingham was promoted to head coach in 2005. Ludwig stayed as Whittingham’s offensive coordinator for four seasons before departing for a job at Cal. Since then, he has been at San Diego State, Wisconsin and Vanderbilt.
Joked Whittingham: “Got the band back together.”
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“We’re on the same page,” Whittingham added. “Our philosophies, our thought processes, just how we go about our business — a lot of similarities between me and Andy.”
Ludwig isn’t necessarily a system guy. He has based his system on the personnel at the schools at which he has been, though in his past four seasons at Vanderbilt the draw between the pass and run game never split too far from 50/50.
The other two new hires were Sione Po’uha, a Utah alum who played eight seasons in the NFL. Po’uha takes over defensive tackles from Gary Andersen, who departed for the HC job at Utah State, and will join his former teammate Lewis Powell (and his former coordinator Whittingham) in overseeing the defensive-line production. Colton Swan, who will coach linebackers after former LB coach Justin Ena joined Andersen at Utah State as defensive coordinator, is a longtime Weber State assistant and most recently worked with their linebackers. Utah fans might remember Landon Stice and Noah Vaea, two Weber State linebackers who had highly productive games against Utah during the season opener in 2018.
Schedule analysis
The biggest change the Pac-12 made for scheduling this offseason is that every team will have two idle weeks during the regular season, giving teams opportunities to both prepare and rehab. For a conference that has had its fair share of drama in terms of conference decision-making, credit should be given when it makes a move that truly benefits the athletes.
Utah got a great draw for its two idle weeks. Its first comes during the first weekend of October, after the Utes have played five games (two conference games) and ahead of a road trip to Oregon State. The Utes’ second idle week falls the second weekend of November, after a visit to Washington (so an extra week to rehab will likely be welcomed after what will certainly be a physical game against the Huskies) and with three games remaining in the season.
In terms of cross-divisional games, Utah has a better draw than it did a season ago when the Utes had Oregon, Stanford and Washington out of the North. This season, they drew Washington, Washington State and Oregon State.
Utah will have only one short week this season when they play a Friday night Pac-12 opener at USC. That game comes after a Saturday game against FCS foe Idaho State.
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Final assessment
In the first eight years of the Pac-12 title game, every single Pac-12 South team has won a divisional title at least once (however the South has won the overall Pac-12 title only one time — USC in 2017). Though the Utes were the last of the six teams to win the South, they head into 2019 with a real shot to defend their Pac-12 South title in a division that will — almost undoubtedly — be bonkers again in 2019 as teams continue to try to find their foundations.
The benefit for the Utes here?
They know what their foundation is — a really solid defensive front. And the Utes have exactly that.
So, if the defense can remain solid and Ludwig can get the returning offensive playmakers to show some cohesion and make some plays, this year could set up nicely for a Utah team that can repeat as Pac-12 South champs, and potentially, make a play for its first conference title as a member of the Pac-12.
(Top photo by Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
